1.
fresh green leaves; new foliage; verdure
The lush green leaves of trees and plants, especially the fresh new leaves that appear in late spring and early summer. A seasonal word associated with the beauty of nature in May and June.
青葉が美しい。
The green leaves are beautiful.
木々の青葉が風に揺れている。
The green leaves on the trees are swaying in the wind.
五月になると山は青葉に覆われて、目に鮮やかだ。
In May, the mountains are covered with fresh green leaves, vivid to the eye.
Refers specifically to the fresh, vibrant green foliage of late spring and early summer. Composed of 青 (green/blue) + 葉 (leaf/leaves). A poetic and seasonal word strongly associated with May and June.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 青葉の季節: the season of fresh green leaves
- 青葉が茂る: green leaves grow thick
- 青葉の頃: around the time of fresh green foliage
- 目に青葉: green leaves pleasing to the eye (from a famous haiku)
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
In haiku, 青葉 is a 季語 (seasonal word) for early summer. The famous phrase 目に青葉 山ほととぎす 初鰹 by 山口素堂 celebrates three seasonal pleasures: green leaves for the eyes, the cuckoo for the ears, and the first bonito for the palate.
RELATED TERMS:
- 新緑: fresh greenery — similar meaning but more general; also a seasonal word for early summer
- 若葉: young leaves — emphasizes the newness of the leaves rather than their color
- 紅葉: autumn foliage — the seasonal counterpart to 青葉